When to assist

[bfaber0]

Noticed small hole around 12pm- membrane was extremely dry. Husband forgot to put any water in incubator from the beginning. Added water at 12pm. Read to assist chick, so I removed a dime size amount of shell at 9pm. Accidentally removed membrane and saw blood so I stopped. Chick has been chirping and moving beak a bit but hasn't made any progress. It is now 3:30am. Should I assist or just wait it out? I'm afraid I should have left him alone, but the membrane was so thick and dry I was afraid he was stuck. It is day 19 and no other eggs have pipped. Please help

 

[mirandaleecon]

I know I may be a bit late, but if the chick hasn't already hatched, do you have any pictures?

It is common for a chick to pip and rest for up to 24 hours. They do this once they start running out of oxygen inside the egg so they can breath, it gives them some more time to absorb the yolk and blood vessels.

You may have to keep the membrane moist in the shell so that he can hatch. A q-tip with bacitracin will keep it moist for some time, water will work, you just have to check it very frequently and be very careful not to get any in the chicks nostrils.

Let me know where he is and I will try to help you further. Here are some articles that have a ton of great information, they are long but well worth the time to read.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

Oh yea, and it probably wasn't that big of a deal that there was no water in there from the beginning. I actually don't add any water until I see the first pip.

 

[bfaber0]

Thank you!! He actually hatched on his own around 9am this morning. He is already dry and full of energy.

 

[mirandaleecon]

Thank you!! He actually hatched on his own around 9am this morning. He is already dry and full of energy.

Glad to hear! Congrats!